News

I plan to exploit her weaknesses

Caitlin McEwen will enter hostile territory on April 7 when she faces hometown favourite Anthea Paton at AFC 22. Anthea may have the hometown support, however Caitlin will be looking to quickly silence the crowd by dishing up another impressive performance which is very characteristic of her career thus far.

Although a new face in the AFC, Caitlin has been paving out a stellar MMA career on the domestic scene and she’ll be looking to add that win column come April 7:

“I started BJJ straight after I graduated when I was 18 years old. Despite my lack of combat sport background, I fell in love with the sport and decided to stick to it. I decided to take on MMA after an exhibition boxing match the year after. I ended up winning my first MMA fight, even though I decided to debut as a pro fighter. 3 wins later, I haven’t looked back”

Caitlin’s 3 fight pro career has seen her render 3 impressive TKO victories which has her identified as a legitimate finisher in the division. Although her hands are dynamite, Caitlin will be looking to show AFC fans that her hands a just one of many tools in her MMA arsenal:

“I have confidence in my ability as an MMA fighter, which includes my striking. I’d like to think I have a well-rounded game, and I am very excited to demonstrate that on this card”

In just a couple of weeks’ time, Caitlin will make her debut on Australia’s premier MMA promotion which brings forth not only opportunity, but a lot of pressure to perform. For Caitlin, her focus is solely on making an impact and instilling herself atop the WMMA food chain:

“AFC has been on my radar for a while now. I am very thankful to be given the opportunity to fight on a show that continues to deliver an excellent card and standard of fighters”

Anthea Paton awaits on this monumental occasion and will definitely form an opponent whom Caitlin will have to be at her best to defeat. As far as expectations of Anthea, well that’s simple:

“I am expecting Anthea to perform at her best and I look forward to the challenge, I am sure she is expecting me to perform at mine”

It’s no secret that Anthea has a stellar Muay Thai background, and her recent success in Queensland makes her an even more formidable opponent. That aside, most MMA purists believe that adaption is the key to this sport, and that’s exactly the mantra that Caitlin will employ in this fight:

“I plan to walk in with a confident and calm mind, and to do what I always do and adapt to the fight as it progresses”

With that sort of an approach, Caitlin feels she can control the fight wherever it may end up. In a really simplistic yet perfect sense, Caitlin plans to capitalise on her strengths and exploit her opponent’s weaknesses:

“I never assume I have any advantages in any fight. However, I plan to exploit her weaknesses and capitalise on my strengths”

As always preparation is the ultimate key to success, and that factor is something that Caitlin takes very seriously. Much like her opponent, Caitlin is lucky enough to have a strong and dedicated team behind her who have carefully and strategically prepared a game plan that will allow her to make a statement on April 7:

“My key coaches are my two cornerman – Adam Saunderson and Dimi Dimitrovski. Both have coached me since I have started MMA – and I am very grateful to have such experienced and humble coaches. I have a few training partners – all of which have taken the time to help me for this fight. I owe a lot to these people”

So with just a couple of weeks till fight night, a range of feelings and emotions will consume the athletes who are preparing to put it all on the line in the name of stamping their authority on the fastest growing sport in the world. Pride is a word that’s often linked to moments like this, and such is the pinnacle word for Caitlin:

“I am very proud and excited to be a part of a promotion that endorses such an amazing sport”